Lane Batot
Bonnie Prince Charlie [CBS] / Crew [CBS]
Lane worked on several aspects of the Christy series, and engagingly shares of his stories being from his time in front of the camera or as a member of the crew. Along with his experiences on Christy, Lane has given unforgettable presentations at ChristyFest™, sharing much of his considerable knowledge of the animals indigenous to the Smoky Mountains. Lane graduated from Western Carolina University in 1982 with degrees in Anthropology and Biology. He also spent a summer in Africa with Jane Goodall - a remarkable time he spoke about in a special event at ChristyFest™ 2010. Currently he is a keeper at the Cypress Swamp at the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro. ChristyFest™ is delighted to have Lane return!
Jo Doster
Casting Director [CBS]
Jo was the Casting Director, on location, for Christy [CBS]. She sifted through countless folks to form the fine cast of Christy. Jo has helped shape many important movies - among them, The Color Purple, The Client, The Thin Red Line, and many other influential films. In 1997 she received an award for "Best Casting for Feature Film" from the Casting Society of America for her work on The People Vs Larry Flynt. She was also nominated for this award in 1999 for her work on October Sky. Jo has also cast Hallmark's production of John Grisham's A Painted House. In 2010 she was involved with casting for Black, White and Blues, and Country Strong starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Tim McGraw. Welcome back, Jo!
Mike Hickman
Bird's-Eye Taylor [CBS & PAX]
Mike is a much-loved regular at ChristyFest™. Those meeting him the first time might be expecting a scowl or some sort of rude greeting but Mike is nothing like Bird's-Eye Taylor in real life. Friendly and informative, Mike is happy to share his memories of working on the series and the PAX movies. A veteran of many projects, on and off the screen, Mike's creative past lends flavor and fun to all his stories. 2010 saw him perform in The Crazies. ChristyFest™ welcomes back the best loved 'bad guy' of the cove!
Bruce McKinnon
Jeb Spencer [CBS & PAX]
The talented Bruce McKinnon is well known to Christy fans for his wonderful portrayal of Jeb Spencer. He greets fans with a ready smile and is full of anecdotes from his varied acting experiences from Christy and his many other projects. Rumor has it he was even a middleweight boxer and worked on oil rigs in the Gulf! In project news, in 2008 he appeared with Harry Connick Jr. and Bernadette Peters in the influential Lifetime movie Living Proof focusing on breast cancer treatment and awareness. He has also appeared in Our Child is Missing and That Evening Sun and The Wronged Man with Julia Ormond. We are delighted to have Bruce join us at ChristyFest™ and can't wait to hear about his latest projects!
Frank Hoyt Taylor
Uncle Bogg McHone [CBS]
Frank Hoyt Taylor as the irrepressible Bogg McHone is definitely a fan-favorite. A well-versed performer, Frank has appeared on stage and screen and filmed all over the country. His roots as well as his self-built farm may originate in Virgina, but he has been involved with a long list of noteworthy projects over the years with many prominent directors. Highlights include Big Fish, June Bug, Dreamer, Hounddog - and the list goes on. In 2010, Frank reunited with Mike Hickman when they both had roles in The Crazies. He also taught theatre in the university setting and never tires in his pursuit of mastering his unique characterizations. Recently, Frank has worked on the remake of Footloose and a film for TV, Outlaw Country. ChristyFest™ is so pleased to have Frank join us this year!
Emily Hope [Schulman] Webster
Ruby Mae Morrison [CBS]
Christy fans know Emily as the effervescent, endearing Ruby Mae from the CBS series. Emily had extensive acting experience prior to her role in Christy - as a child actress Emily appeared in over 200 commercials before being cast in the FOX hit Small Wonder. This led to two Youth in Film Awards, five nominations, multiple guest appearances and starring roles in such films as Troop Beverly Hills and Caddie Woodlawn. Emily has also worked on the New York City stage. Retiring at 17, Emily decided to shift her focus to the other side of the camera. In the years following college her later work experience and managerial approach to agenting found her coaching, directing and guiding her clients to achieve impressive success. Now based in and around the Connecticut Shoreline, she devotes her professional energies toward what she loves the most: educating and working with actors of all ages. ChristyFest™ is delighted to welcome Emily to her first appearance at ChristyFest™!
Sam Tyler Wayman
John Spencer [CBS]
Having been involved in acting from a very early age and peaking with the experience on Christy in the early 90s, Sam began a hiatus from acting as he attended film school in Washington D.C. and traveled to Prague, Czech Republic to study filmmaking there. After graduating college with a degree in Communications in 1998, Sam moved back to his native Los Angeles where he developed a career working in the film industry, this time behind the camera. Sam is currently a union Set Lighting Technician, working on a variety of major motion pictures, television, and commercials. However, he recently began exploring his options as an actor once again and is presently taking steps to re-enter this area of his life. ChristyFest™ is excited to have Sam join us for his first appearance at CF!
ChristyFest™ has confirmed the appearance of all Cast and Crew members to the best of its ability. Please note we are not responsible for possible changes in Cast and Crew members' schedules or circumstances beyond our control. We will update with any changes as soon as they are known.